faentasy: (Default)
𝔒𝔫𝔠𝔢 𝔘𝔭𝔬𝔫 𝔐𝔬𝔡𝔰 ([personal profile] faentasy) wrote in [community profile] onceuponacomm2021-06-05 09:53 am

TRIAL I

Trial V


The sounds of Hamelin's flute reach you, wherever you are. No matter the melody (light and whimsical today) it always seem to signal the start of something unwelcome. Whether you resist or not, eventually you'll find yourself drawn to the origin of the song.

The lush greenery of the palace courtyard greets you at the end of your journey, atmosphere heavy like the party from last night was simply an illusion. And at the center of it all, Hamelin smiles, his mouth curved, as he gathers everyone to one side of the palace grounds. With a short note from his flute, the quiet is broken with a small tremor that only grows and grows until the ground itself seems to erupt with chaos.

There's practically no time to react as roots and branches pierce through from the dirt in a wide circle around the group, limbs entwining around each other densely to create a thick wall of branches that obscure any sight of the outside world. And in that pitch black cage, the rumbling continues underfoot, bringing with it the strange sensation of moving up. When the shaking finally seems to die down, what awaits when the branches loosen and unwind is--

The hollowed inside of a grand tree, its size large enough to be comparable to the palace's ballroom. As you look around, you'll see several oversized toadstools (thirty-one for those inclined to count) growing about the place, and a small wooden table where ballots and quills are laid out, in addition to a hard-covered book with the profiles of each and every one of you. Directly behind the table is a particularly large knot, wide enough to stick your hand into.

A glance to the 'windows' in the tree trunk only show thick branches with their foliage and the wide blue sky; those who approach these windows and look down will also see that anyone who tries to escape this way is going to be leading themselves to a very, very long drop. No other exits are visible anywhere in the tree, either.

As absurd as this entire place was, as absurd as this entire situation was, the only way to get out was to play the game.

It was time. The trial for Samidare Asahina's death had begun.
sempiternel: (061)

[personal profile] sempiternel 2021-06-05 08:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, for your next performance?

[ She stares at his shoes, tilting her head thoughtfully. ]

I think they're too dirty to have been rinsed at the kitchen sink.

[ But she'll leave it up to the others to help decide what this all means. ]
incompletely: (tenn24)

[personal profile] incompletely 2021-06-05 08:48 pm (UTC)(link)
No, no. We were trying to figure out how to use weapons.

[ They really are too dirty, yeah... ]

I know that sounds bad, but I'm trying to be as transparent as possible, here. We're at a huge disadvantage, so I picked up a battle axe for myself, and a bow and a set of arrows for Riku at the shop. We found some books from the archives on battle stances and handling these.

We just want to be able to ward off people who might hurt us. Neither of us mean any harm. I even brought my axe to the Cinderella play this week.
Edited 2021-06-05 20:49 (UTC)
warmthbringer: (29)

[personal profile] warmthbringer 2021-06-05 08:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Riku here-- He nods. ]

We're both just idols back home, so we're both kind of out of our depth... I think even if we did attach someone out of self-defense, then we wouldn't go to these kinds of lengths...

We'd just try to get to safety, as quick as possible.
sempiternel: (062)

[personal profile] sempiternel 2021-06-05 09:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes... What's more, we are looking for someone who could possibly punch or hit Lady Asahina hard enough to, um, disorient her I think. It seems they only needed one hit on her. Neither of you have martial arts listed as a skill.
incompletely: (tenn7)

[personal profile] incompletely 2021-06-05 09:01 pm (UTC)(link)
That's right.

[ He feels sick from just thinking about landing any sort of hit on her. ]
warmthbringer: (7)

[personal profile] warmthbringer 2021-06-05 09:05 pm (UTC)(link)
I definitely wouldn't!

[ Ah-- He takes a breath, hands balling into tight fists. He hates thinking about even hurting Sami. ]

I don't have those kinds of skills, you're right. Besides... there's no wish I could ever have that'd be worth that.
sempiternel: (084)

[personal profile] sempiternel 2021-06-05 09:12 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm sorry... I do believe you both. [ She feels the same about Sami, so she understands. ] Thank you for answering my questions.
warmthbringer: (1-42)

[personal profile] warmthbringer 2021-06-05 09:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah...

[ He offers her a smile. It's a hell of an effort. ]

You're doing really great, so... I should be the one thanking you, I think.
incompletely: (tenn29)

[personal profile] incompletely 2021-06-05 09:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you for believing us. Really. I appreciate it.